South Africa: Volkswagen plant firing on all cylinders

Source：July 26, 2012 | AllAfrica Release Date：2012-08-01 579

Metalworking

Over half of output for export, including to China – Volkswagen SA's biggest market for engines

By Henrie Geyser

Volkswagen South Africa's engine plant in Uitenhage is back up to speed thanks to an export order from China for more than 12 000 engines.

A spokesman for the VW SA said the plant will now run at full capacity with three working shifts for the remainder of the year. It is scheduled to produce 107,200 engines in 2012 of which 50,200 engines are for the locally built Polo and Polo Vivo models, whilst 57,000 engines will be produced for India, Mexico and China (which is Volkswagen South Africa's biggest export market for engines).

"Exports are a key element of our business model and whilst our Polo exports tend to grab the headlines, engines and components form an integral part of our export strategy," said David Powels, managing director of Volkswagen Group South Africa." With the uncertainty in world markets at the moment, it is a welcome additional order for our plant."

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